Dec 26, 2007

Back when whiteness was clinchedin rosebud’s fist and pine had yet turned to pity.Every morning hope shined within sun's face,each night faith spooned moon’s baldnessNow they've both surrendered and given up their ghosts.

I'm a free verse writer. Below is a definition of free verse, from Bob's byway -- for those who don't know or aren't sure what free verse is...I mean!

Dec 25, 2007

Also called head rhyme or initial rhyme, the repetition of the initial sounds (usually consonants) of stressed syllables in neighboring words or at short intervals within a line or passage, usually at word beginnings, as in "wild and woolly," or the line from Shelley's "The Cloud":

I bearlight shade for the leaves whenlaid

Sidelight: Alliteration has a gratifying effect on the sound, gives a reinforcement to stresses, and can also serve as a subtle connection or emphasis of key words in the line, but alliterated words should not "call attention" to themselves by strained usage.

I use alliteration when writing my poems. Being a free verse writer, I tend to stay away from rhyme. Alliteration is as close as I will get to rhyming even though it isn't quite rhyme -- If that makes sense.

Dec 18, 2007

This is a great site to visit if you just want to relax and enjoy some reading.You don't have to be serious ALL the time! Come kick your shoes off and enjoy reading the strange workings of a strange mind.

Dec 16, 2007

A poem in which certain letters of the lines, usually the first letters, form a word or message relating to the subject. Of ancient origin, examples of acrostic poems date back as far as the 4th century.

Example:

Hockey

Hockey is my favorite sport On the ice or street Cool and fun Keep on playing Exercise and stronger You should try

Dec 11, 2007

I'm a riddle in nine syllables.An elephant, a ponderous house,A melon strolling on two tendrils.O red fruit, ivory, fine timbers!This loaf's big with its yeasty rising.Money's new-minted in this fat purse.I'm a means, a stage, a cow in calf.I've eaten a bag of green apples,Boarded the train there's no getting off. --Sylvia Plath

This poem was written by Sylvia Plath. She was pregnant at the time and wrote of how she felt.

I think she beautifully described or showed how pregnancy affects many of us. The last line sums it up well..."boarded the train there's no getting off" This is an excellent piece of writing.

In the Houghlin/Mifflin, on-line dictionary censorship is: the act, process, or practicing of censoring.

So what is censoring? From the same on-line dictionary, censoring is: A person authorized to examine books, films, or other material and to remove or suppress what is considered morally, politically, or otherwise objectionable.

Everything in life, as we know it, has limits, censoring or censorship defines some of these limits. Since Biblical times humankind has been censored. Whether you believe in the Bible or not, its word has censored humankind actions for over two thousand years. I'm not writing about whether one subscribes to the idea that the Bible is God's word I am however, pointing out that these words are and have been an influence on what man-kind believes is right or wrong which, in a sense, is scriptural censorship over everyday human action/behavior towards one another.

Here in the United States the constitution could also be considered a text of censorship i.e., Amendment VII-- In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. This is a type of censorship on the powers-that-be in this country.

Here and there seems, there seems to be quite a bit of commotion about censorship. Many self proclaimed writing aficionados spout off about stepping on "my freedom of speech" and the disrespect of a writer's first amendment rights. Here is what the first amendment says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

So, where is the line drawn? Well, let us start with the definition of poetry and when is critiquing considered censoring.

Ah yes, the definition of poetry. We can go to the good old dictionary.com and get a generic definition: The art or work of a poet. 1. Poems regarded as forming a division of literature. 2. The poetic works of a given author, group, nation, or kind. A piece of literature written in meter; verse. What is a poem? Again, I will use the on-line generic definition from dictionary.com: 1. A verbal composition designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions in a vivid and imaginative way, characterized by the use of language chosen for its sound and suggestive power and by the use of literary techniques such as meter, metaphor, and rhyme.2. A composition in verse rather than in prose.3. A literary composition written with an intensity or beauty of language more characteristic of poetry than of prose. 4. A creation, object, or experience having beauty suggestive of poetry.

I could go on and on about what poetry is or isn't but I won't, what needs to be understood is poetry is not an exact science.

What I find hypocritical, no one voices objections to the critiquing by so-called poetry experts. The First Amendment does not give carteblanche to rudeness and downright mean spirit-ness. As I stated earlier, poetry is not an exact science and the beauty of any poem is in the eye of the reader. Here is an excerpt written by a poet/teacher about “bad” poetry:

One of the most severe blocks poets face is perfectionism. Too many poets and aspiring poets feel they have to write a great poem every time they set pen to paper. They get frustrated when something does not work or they do not bother to write at all, because they just do not feel ‘inspired’. This sort of thinking destroys creativity. It stops many poets, and many other writers, from even putting the first word on the page. Poetic perfection is a great goal, but a terrible standard. You are not going to produce a great poem every time you sit down to write. You may go for days or weeks without producing anything that you feel is good enough. It can be frustrating, but it should not be defeating. Writing bad poetry is simply a part of writing poetry. --John Hewitt

So, who determines whose freedom of speech is to be verbally annihilated, or dumped into the recycle bin, in the name of critique? When does critique cross into censorship?Who, or what,self-proclaimed critic says that their opinion on a written word is etched in stone? When is it just to crush a writer’s feelings because a particular poem defies society’s sense of versified decorum? Where is it written that they have the wild card to mutilate a person’s write (not right) under the guise of critique? Yet, that same select few will belly ache about not being allowed their vulgarity and crassness under the guise of poetry. Yelp about how their freedom of speech is being violated when others object to their questionable writing tastes.

If a person does not have a grasp on the English language and can only use one-syllable, four letter words in a poem does this make one think that somehow, somewhere, the educational system has failed or etiquette has been flushed down the proverbial crapper.

Critique and censorship is in the eye of the reader. Depending on how learned the reader or writer is in literature will determine how they will react to criticism -- is it a critique or is it down right censorship.

I have learned that there are many different definitions of“good” poetry.Being a novice writer I strive to perfect my craft by reading and learning from professionals. With this thought in mind I have done a small bit of research andfound that the question what is good poetry which, by the way is now being termed approachable poetry, is a hot topic among the ranks of writers. This topic is being debated all the way down the literary echelon, from the learned and professional poets to those of us who write poetry for personal use and self-gratification.

I am not sure why I was lead to write this column or article, however you readers want to categorize this, but I am.My favorite poet Billy Collins was scheduled to speak at a literary conference in Salt Lake City this weekend and seems to have caused an uproar (maybe that’s why I just love that man) among his literary peers.He has now been dubbed “the poster child of approachable poetry” in literary circles (Salt Lake City Tribune Sun. Sept. 11, 2005). Mr. Collins brought on the ire of some critics who believe that good poetry does not necessarily have to appeal to the masses and should not have to be explained.This argument, in literary circles, is about whether poets should write for the audiences or write to please themselves (Salt Lake City Tribune). This article went further to explain that many of the American people are no longer reading as much as they use to. Said article provided statistics gathered by Association of American Publishers to supplement this statement.My question is this: how will a Writer, Poet, Novelist etc… be a writer if they do not read the classics... novels, poetry, plays of established writers?My contention is and always has been, we should read poetry, write poetry, read poetry…

This same argument mentioned in the above paragraph has been broached on many poetry forums of different types in one way or another.I find it interesting that those of the academic and professional writing world are asking the same questions many of us novice-want-to-bes are asking, what is good or approachable poetry. How is it defined?If the professionals are debating the issue then, who is to say what is good and approachable writing.Is this subjectivity rearing its obscure head?

Who or What Am I?

A Baby Boomer by birth, with lots to say. Political views voiced can go either way, not a die-hard political follower but, when something irks me...gloves are off.
I'm neither Democrat nor Republican, both sides tend to irritate me.When I vote, I vote for the lesser of the two evils or I'll vote for my self.
As a Disabled Veteran I've traveled the world, now I'm traveling along cyberspace and blog what I say and say what I blog -- simple as that.
Come and converse with me -- you know you want too!
I blog what I say and say what I blog -- simple as that
All rights reserved with anything written by me.